EEBT CHAPTER 4: Let’s Ask Some Questions

Adelaine was locked in a room, her arms and legs tied to a chair, left alone.

 

She grew increasingly fearful as she noticed a long trail of bloodstains stretching from one corner of the room to the door.

 

Regret began to creep in.

 

Why did I have to move today?

 

Adelaine racked her brain, trying to recall the novel’s details.

 

But something felt off.

 

In the novel, Seyd’s information guild had been wiped out by the Crown Prince himself. Alex Manningham was never supposed to be someone who worked under the Crown Prince.

 

“What’s going on…?”

 

Just then, voices came from beyond the door.

 

“Go check on the wounded and record the number of enemies killed.”

 

“Understood, Captain.”

 

As the conversation ended, the door opened, and Alex stepped inside.

 

Alex slumped into the chair in front of Adelaine and stared at her.

 

His deep blue eyes seemed to pierce through her.

 

Her heightened senses took in everything about him—the smell of gunpowder and blood, the dimly lit room with a single candle, the cold night air blowing in from outside, and even the distant cries of someone dying.

 

All of it pushed Adelaine further into a corner. And Alex, the one who had cornered her, stared at her and spoke.

 

“Let’s keep this short. Why did you come here today?”

 

“……”

 

Adelaine couldn’t speak.

 

This world is the setting of a romance novel, and in the latest chapter, you died alongside your subordinates.

 

If I say that, I’ll be labeled a lunatic.

 

So, what should I say here?

 

“…Do I have any obligation to answer you?”

 

At her response, Alex’s eyebrow twitched slightly, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

 

“Of course not, my lady.”

 

If she had only heard his voice, she might have felt relieved, but Alex’s expression made her uneasy. The relaxed smile on his face bothered her.

 

What’s going on? What’s wrong?

 

“Then let me ask you this. Do I have any obligation to let you leave here alive?”

 

“…What?”

 

*Click.*

 

A cold metallic sound came from Alex’s waist. His hand had already moved to his pistol.

 

Adelaine’s voice trembled.

 

“Are you… going to kill me now…?”

 

“That depends on the situation, doesn’t it?”

 

Alex stared at her as he spoke.

 

His unrelenting gaze was terrifying… and beautiful.

 

She didn’t know why she thought that.

 

“It seems you’ve grasped the situation now.”

 

Looking at the frightened Adelaine, Alex took a breath.

 

“Neither of us needs unnecessary trouble. So… why don’t you start talking? About this incident, and the human trafficking scene from before. I have a lot of questions.”

 

Despite his barrage of questions, Adelaine couldn’t bring herself to speak.

 

One reason was the oppressive, menacing atmosphere.

 

The other reason was…

“I… I really don’t know anything….”

 

Even as Adelaine spoke tearfully, Alex remained unmoved.

 

“You claim to know nothing, yet you managed to find the secret hideout of the information guild.”

 

It was in the novel, that’s why!

 

She screamed the words she couldn’t say aloud in her mind, her face filled with frustration. Watching her for a moment, Alex seemed to relent and offered her a different proposal.

 

“Then, why don’t you tell me something that might pique my interest?”

 

But no matter how hard she thought, Adelaine couldn’t come up with anything that would interest him in this situation, set two years before the novel’s main events, where he wasn’t even a protagonist.

 

Then, a thought struck her.

 

There were three male leads in the novel. One of them was Seyd.

 

And Seyd was a jack-of-all-trades. He was so skilled that he could hide the horrific scars covering his entire arm from everyone.

 

“S-Seyd is alive.”

 

“Unfortunately, Seyd is dead. That’s a bit cliché.”

 

He picked at his ear, clearly uninterested.

 

But Adelaine continued, her voice trembling.

 

“No. Seyd disguised himself as someone else and escaped.”

 

“Do you have any proof of that?”

 

She couldn’t say anything. The brand on Seyd’s back was a detail only shared between him and the female lead in the novel.

 

In this situation, where she couldn’t possibly say she’d read it in a novel, there was no way she could mention the brand.

 

“…So, it’s nothing after all.”

 

When she failed to provide evidence, Alex stood up. He opened the door and spoke to a soldier waiting outside.

 

“Request Inspector Whitaker and his follow-up troops. Let’s head back and rest.”

 

“Understood.”

 

As if the conversation was over, he stretched and prepared to leave.

 

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the stairs below.

 

“C-Captain!”

 

At the urgent call, Alex poked his head out the door and asked,

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Whispered conversation followed. Adelaine had no way of knowing what they were discussing.

 

“Got it. I’ll be down soon.”

 

He said this and then stepped back into the room.

 

“Seyd is alive, huh….”

 

Alex muttered as he approached her. As he drew closer, exuding an indescribable pressure, Adelaine trembled.

 

What’s going to happen to me?

 

Tragic scenarios played out in her mind. The outlook was bleak.

 

Then, the ropes binding her hands came loose.

 

“It seems you’re incredibly lucky, my lady.”

 

“Huh…?”

 

*Ssshhhk.*

 

The ropes restraining Adelaine fell away, and her body was finally free.

 

Still bewildered by the sudden turn of events, she stared at Alex as he spoke.

 

“I won’t press you on how you know about Seyd’s survival… for now.”

 

He removed his hat and smoothed his hair as he spoke. Even that gesture was oddly captivating, unlike the image she had of him.

 

“We’ll meet again soon. I’ll need to hear how you knew.”

 

After saying this, Alex helped her to her feet and issued orders to the soldier waiting outside.

 

“Swafford.”

“Corporal Swafford.”

 

“Escort the lady back to her place before sunrise.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

In the brief silence, Adelaine could sense the dissatisfaction in Swafford’s voice. However, when the door opened and Swafford stepped in, there was no trace of it on his face.

 

“Then, I’ll see you at the palace.”

 

Alex removed his hat and bowed slightly to her.

 

His gaze was confident, as if he was certain they would meet again.

 

* * *

 

“Casualties?”

 

“Two minor injuries, one serious.”

 

A soldier with a bandaged left hand, likely cut by a bayonet, reported to him. Despite the report of a serious injury, Alex’s expression remained bright.

 

“Sergeant Lake. Right?”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Their timing was impeccable, as if their mouths were as precise as high-end watches.

 

Sergeant Lake had been seriously injured during this mission, not the previous raid on the human trafficking site.

 

Anyway, that’s how it was.

 

“Hmm. Should we assign Sergeant Lake to reinforce the 2nd Squad?”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to have the 1st Squad handle the alibi? The 2nd Squad hasn’t done much.”

 

“Was there really no one on the second floor?”

 

“Not exactly.”

 

The soldier made a gesture of slashing his forehead with the edge of his hand.

 

“They just did this. Took them down in an instant.”

 

Hearing this, Alex let out a deep sigh.

 

“We’ll have to confiscate all the hatchets someday… seriously.”

 

Alex sighed. Since being stationed in the capital, the fatigue among the soldiers had been piling up, leading to more and more erratic behavior.

 

So far, it hadn’t been a major issue, but these minor deviations could become problematic later.

 

Not that he had any right to complain, given that he couldn’t guarantee them proper rest.

 

“Keep it in check. Moderately.”

 

“Yeah, yeah. Got it.”

 

As they exited the building, they saw soldiers diligently cleaning up. Some were working with Capital Defense Force officers on the investigation.

 

Among them, Inspector Whitaker spotted Alex and raised his hand to call him over.

 

“Captain Manningham!”

 

“Inspector Whitaker.”

 

The two saluted each other and then leaned in close, whispering.

 

“Casualties?”

 

“Two minor injuries, one serious. Confirmed enemy casualties: 72. All but three have been dealt with.”

 

“The serious injury… that sergeant?”

 

“Correct.”

 

Inspector Whitaker examined the state of the bodies and spoke to him.

 

“…It’ll be hard to submit this as evidence, you know.”

 

“Cut us some slack on that.”

 

“Of course. What else can we expect? Anyway.”

 

Inspector Whitaker lit his pipe and looked at Alex.

 

“The big fish?”

 

“We missed him.”

“…Tsk. That’s a shame. Well, good job anyway.”

 

“Thank you. We’ll withdraw now.”

 

“Do that. Oh, here.”

 

*Whoosh.*

 

Inspector Whitaker tossed Alex a small velvet pouch. Alex caught it and peeked inside to see a few gold coins.

 

“Should be enough for the boys to have a drink or two. Sorry I can’t give more.”

 

At Whitaker’s sincere words, Alex shook his head.

 

“No, this is more than enough.”

 

Relieved, Whitaker smiled and patted Alex on the shoulder.

 

“Is that so? Well… good work. Head back now.”

 

“See you later.”

 

Alex saluted first, and Whitaker returned the gesture.

 

“Everyone, gather up! We’re pulling out!”

 

It was time to go back.

 

Even if it was just tents and personal gear, home was home.

 

* * *

 

*Clip-clop. Clip-clop.*

 

Adelaine was riding behind Corporal Swafford, speeding through the night.

 

The situation had changed so rapidly that it was hard to comprehend. Adelaine had no idea what to say or ask the man driving the carriage in front of her.

 

One moment, she was being threatened with death, and the next, she was being escorted home. It felt like being tossed between a cold bath and a hot spring. To calm her confusion, she decided to ask Swafford a question.

 

“…Um, Corporal Swafford?”

 

“Yes?”

 

Adelaine hesitated at his sharp tone but gathered her courage and asked.

 

“What kind of person… is Captain Manningham?”

 

“…….”

 

An awkward silence followed. For a moment, she wondered if she had asked something she shouldn’t have.

 

Just as she was about to berate herself, Swafford spoke.

 

“He’s the best superior. I’d follow him anywhere if I could.”

 

*The best superior.* His words carried no hint of sarcasm or insincerity, which surprised her.

 

Alex, who was always portrayed as lazy and incompetent in the novel, was considered the best superior by his subordinates.

 

“Why is that?”

 

“Well, what else could it be? He takes care of his subordinates and listens to their opinions. That’s what makes the best superior. He’s capable, too. Always leads from the front.”

 

“I see.”

 

Adelaine could only nod. His voice was filled with trust.

 

“We’ve arrived. You’ll have to walk from here.”

 

“…Thank you.”

 

Swafford stopped at a spot where the Duke’s mansion was visible in the distance. Adelaine struggled to dismount from the horse.

 

“Let’s hope we never meet again.”

 

With those final words, he rode off into the darkness.

 

Watching his retreating figure, Adelaine was filled with doubt.

 

What happened before the novel started that turned Alex Manningham, this respected and capable officer, into a sweet potato farmer in the story?

 

“I need to find out more… Something’s not right here…”